Diversity and host specificity of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in native and introduced squirrel species

Abstract

Introduction of alien species into new areas can have detrimental effects on native ecosystems

A newly described strain of Eimeria arloingi (strain A) belongs to the phylogenetic group of ruminant-infecting pathogenic species, which replicate in host endothelial cells in vivo

“…Again, the differences obtained here might be due to the shorter KC507792 sequence used in the former study. Single 18S rDNA sequences have been described as the basis for several phylogenetic studies (Hillman et al, 2016;Hofmannova et al, 2016;Kokuzawa et al, 2013;Nahavandi et al, 2016), although other authors have questioned the usefulness of 18S rDNA sequences for classifying apicomplexan parasites since classical taxonomy of the monoxenous coccidia in the family Eimeriidae was not well supported by such molecular data (Martynova-Vankley et al, 2008;Morrison et al, 2004). Specifically, sequence data were unable to confirm the monophyly of all Eimeria species analysed so far (Ogedengbe et al, 2011).…”

Eimeria sciurorum (Apicomplexa, Coccidia) From the Calabrian Black Squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis): An Example of Lower Host Specificity of Eimerians

“…To reach the required resolution for distinguishing the unsporulated coccidia in our study, we combined the morphological identification with molecular taxonomy. Microscopic determination revealed only unsporulated oocysts of a single morphotype that were indistinguishable from E. sciurorum and/or E. lancasterensis based on the oocyst size and morphology of the oocyst wall (27). Subsequent molecular analyses clearly placed it into E. sciurorum (Figures 2, 3; Supplementary Tables 1, 2).…”

“…Five squirrel species occur in Italy: the only native S. vulgaris, and the introduced (or escaped from captivity) S. carolinensis, Callosciurus erythraeus, C. finlaysonii, and Tamias sibiricus (27,33,34). The geographical range of S. meridionalis does not overlap with that of S. vulgaris, S. carolinensis, or other squirrels from which E. sciurorum has been recorded so far (32,33,35).…”

“…Eimeria confusa, E. lancasterensis, and E. ontarioensis, all originally described from the Eastern gray squirrel (S. carolinensis), are also able to infect other North American squirrel species such as S. niger or S. aberti (30,31,37). Hofmannová et al (27) described the successful colonization of the European territory by E. lancasterensis along with its host; however, it was unable to cross the species barrier between its natural host (S. carolinensis) and native red squirrels (S. vulgaris). Finally, although we undoubtedly found E. sciurorum in the Calabrian black squirrel, the question remains whether it is the only coccidian species able to infect this squirrel species.…”

Detection and quantification of house mouse Eimeria at the species level – Challenges and solutions for the assessment of coccidia in wildlife

“…Localization generally agrees with previous descriptions for the isolates we identified as E. ferrisi , E. falciformis and E. vermiformis by phylogenetic clustering. Reports of co-infections has been done previously in A. sylvaticus from the same colony (Higgs and Nowell, 2000) or in large populations of grey and red squirrels (Hofmannová et al, 2016). To our knowledge we provide the first report of double infections in wild populations of Mus musculus .…”